Container



D. l. MCKENZIE Sebt. 2, '1952 CONTAINER 3 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.. 17, 1 948 ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1952 Filed Feb. 17, 1948 D. l. MCKENZIE CONTAINER IGO 3 Sheets-Sheei 2 'lNvENToR' DENNIS l. M'KENZIE TTORNEYS D. 1. MOKENZIE Sept. 2, 1952 CONTAINER .'5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 17, 1948 INVENTOR FIG. e

M. m R N m -JH W B N` m Y DBNJ Patented Sept. 2, 1952 CQ-NTAINER Dennis I. M'cKenzie, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to lvIoraine Box Company, Dayton, Ohio, acorpoe ration of Michigan Application February 17, 1948, Serial No. 8,790

7 claims. (ol. 229 .14)

This invention relates to a structure for placement within a4 cardboard carton to reinforce the side walls of the carton, the cardboard carton providing means to retain the structure in assembled relationship,V thereby providing a nailless shipping carton with a Wooden crate'reinforcement capable of being used for shipment of heavy articles.

An object of the invention is to provide a Wooden erate type of reinforcement structure for placement within a cardboard carton which holds the structure together wherein the reinforcement structure is constructed and arranged in such a manner that metal straps can be placed around the cardboard carton to bind the parts of the reinforcement structure together.v i It isstill another object of the invention to provide a reinforcement structure in accordance with the foregoing object wherein reinforcing members extend longitudinally along the carton at each longitudinalcorner thereof so that metal straps can be 'wrapp'ed' around lthe carton transversely thereofl at any point between the ends.

VStill another object of the invention is to provide a Wooden crate type of reinforcement structure that is constructed and arranged in such a manner that `the vobject to be carried can be placed upon a base oi'platform within a cardboard carton, the`` remaining side Walls and'top wall being ins'e'rtabie into the carton in locking arrangementV with the base platform/and with each other with reinforcing members extending longitudnally of the carton at each longitudinal corner thereof.

Still-another object of thenvention is to provide a crate vtype -reinforcement structure of the kind referred to in theforegoing object whereinl the 'walls of the structure are held together by cleats provided at the-end walls? of the structure so that a vcardboard carton can be inserted over the assembled crate and slipped downwardly thereover, whereupon the carton and the assembled crate can be turned over completely to permit-folding o'f the flaps over'the open side of the carton. This-latter arrangementprovides for a structurev wherein aheavy article can be assembled upon a base or platform and thereafter have the crate assembled around'V it whereupon the cardboa'rd' carton can be placed downwardly over the crate tohold the members of the crate in assembled relationship while the crate and the cardboard carton 'arebeing turned over to gain access to the ilaps for closing the open side of the carton. IIfhe arrangement avoids the necessity of assembung the crate within a cardboard carton, at the -s me time permitting assembly of the crate around the object outside the carton, which can subsequently be placed around the assembled crate.r

Further objects and advantages'will become apparent from the drawings and the following description. I e i 'In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of -a-reinforced cardboard carton embodying the features of this invention. i r

Figure -2 is a perspective view illustrating' the cardboard carton in cross-section and the reinforcing frame or cratein elevation.

Figure 3 is-a-fierspeotive 'elevational view of a era-te type reinforeing'structure for a cardboard carton wherein end cleats are used to hold the assembly together while the carton is being placed downwardly over the assembly and for holding the base'platfornr-i` to the assembly when the carton and the assembly are turned over. Y

f Figure 4 is a lperspective elevationalview illustrating the device of Fgure 3 in the turned-'over position so that access is gained to the closing flaps of the cardboard'carton for closing the open side thereof. f I

Figure 5: is a perspective elevational view of a portion of a erate type reinforci-ng structure such as that illustrated lin Figure33 incorporating a modified arrangement of't'he cleat assembly". V

Fgure 6 is 'aperspective elevational view illustrating astill further modified construction of the cleat assembly; i

';In this invention thev crate type reinforcing structure consists of a base platform IO, a top platform H and side walls l2 and l3, as shown in Figure 2. Y

The-base platform Ill consists of a pair of rails land Hi that extend longitudinally of the carton-into which the crate'assembly will be placed. A'pair of transversely extendng rails ll and [8 arepositioned between the longitudnally extending rails-IS and IG, andv 'suitably secured thereto. These transverse rails l'l and 18 have their ends inset from thel outer longitudinal edges l5a and IB'aV of the rails IE and 16. A plurality of otheri transverse rai1sj|9` can be provided between the rails l-and IS as desired to provide a base to which-an object can be secured.

The top platform I l is constructed in a manner like4 the base platform in that it is provided with a pair of side rails 20 and 2'ljtha't extend longitudinally of theV carton into which the assembly isv to be placed. `The side rails 20 and 21 are secured together by theV transversely ex- 3 tnding rails 22 and 23 at opposite ends thereof. These rails 22 and 23 have their ends inset from the side edges 20a and 21a of the side rails 20 and 21.

The side walls 12 and 13 are constructed alike in that each of the side walls consist of a pair of vertically extending end rails 24 and 25. These end rails 24 and 25 are secured together -by longitudinally extending rails 26 and 21. The rails 26 and 21 are inset from the ends of the vertically extending rails 24 and 25.

It will be noted that the rails 1'1, 18, 22 and 23 of the base platform and the top platform 11 respectively are inset from the edges of the longitudinally extending rails 15, 16, and 21 a distance equal to the thckness of the Vertical rails 24 and 25. Also, it will be noted that the longitudinally extending rails 26 and 2'1 are inset relative to the ends of the Vertical rails 24 and a distance equal to the thckness of the trans- I verse rails 11, 18, 22 and 23. v

The above-mentioned construction provides for an inter-locking of the corners of the crate structure when it is in assembled condition, as shown in Figure 2. The construction is such that angular movement of the sides, top and base is prevented when the assembly is placed in the cardboard carton and straps placed around the outside of the carton in the manner shown in Figure 1.

In using the structure illustrated in Figure 2, the base platform 10 is first placed within the cardboard carton 30. The object is then placed upon the base, or it could be assembled to the base before being placed in the cardboard carton. v

The side walls 12 and 13 are then placedwithin the carton in their inter-locked relationship with the base platform 10. The top platform 11 is thenV placed within the carton in its inter-locked relationship with the side Walls 12 and 13.

The fiaps 30 and 31 of the carton can then be placed upon the top platform 11 to close the open side of the carton, and Vstraps 32 placed around the complete assembly.

It will be noted that the straps can beplaced around the carton transversely thereof at any position between the opposite ends of the carton, and-when placed around the carton will hold the crate type reinforcing structure within the carton in secure inter-locked relationship.

The size or weight of many objects make it pratically impossible to lift them into a cardboard carton. Thus, there is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 an arrangement of the reinforcing crate structure that is adapted to have an article mounted upon the base platform, the cardboard carton for enclosing the object and its crate being placed upon the crate from the top side. The top and bottom platforms of the crate structure are held together by cleat members so that after the cardboard carton is placed upon the crate, the entire box can be turned over without any danger of the base platform separating from the remaining crate structure. Thus, the article will be turned upside-down so that the open side of the cardboard -carton can be closed, which side of the carton may be the bottom of the box for shipping purposes.

The crate structure of Figure 3 is constructed like the crate structure of Figurel2. I Therefore, the parts of the crate of Fig. 3 that correspond to the parts of the crate of Fig. 2 are numbered with like numbers but advanced by 100. VThe description of the crate of Fig. 2 therefore applies to the descriptionof the crate in Fig. 3.

The base platform and the top platform 111 are prevented from separation from the side walls 112 and 113 by means of a cleat 150. The cleat consists of a Vertical rail 151 having crossbars 152 and 153 attached on each end thereof. The cleat 150 is positioned with the crossbars 152 and 153 in engagement with the outer faces of the base platform 1 10 and the top platform 111. One of these cleatsis provided at each end of the crate structure, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The transverse rails 111 and 118 of the base platform 110 and the transverse rails 112 and 123 of the top platform 111 are inset from the ends of the longitudinal rails to which they are attached to provide for the thckness of the vertical ral 151 of the cleat 150. Other than this slight modification the crate of Fig. 3 is identical with the crate of Fig. 2.

In using the crate illustrated in Fig. 3 the base platform 110 carries' the object that is to be shipped, the object preferably being secured to the base platform. The side walls 112 and 113 are then moved into position on the base platform 110 and the top platform 111 moved into its position with the side walls 112.and 1 13. The end cleats 150 are then placed into position so that the assembled crate around the object appears as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The object will at vthis time be setting upright within the reinforcing crate. A cardboard carton may then be slipped downwardly over the assembled crate. When this is done, the side walls of the crate in their assembled relationship and the cleats 150 will hold the base platform so that it'cannot be separated from the remaining parts of the crate. y'I'he cardboard carton and the crate can then be turned over completely so that the fiaps 161 of the open side of thecardboard carton will face upwardly as shown in Fig. 4. The fiaps can then be closed and straps placed around the cardboard carton in the sameV manner as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated a modification ofr the structure of the crate shown in Fig. 3 wherein filler strips 110 ar'e secured to the transverse rails -111 and 122 tol provide a Continuous edge along the transverse cornersv of the crate.`

In Figure 6 there isv illustrated a further modification of the crate structure wherein the transverse rails 11'1 and 122 are each provided with notches 201, 202 respectively to receive the cleats 150. I,

While the device disclosed and described herein illustrates preferable arrangements, of the' lpair of rails extending longitudinally of the structure and forming a corner edge of the'same and a pair of rails extending transversely between said longitudinal rails at opposite ends thereof and secured thereto, said transverse rails having their ends inset from the longitudinal iaeoegrss ingthe recess provided byitheV inset ends of said .transverse rails, and an unattached removable cleat iT, shaped at each endl extending between saidplatforms at each end-thereof with the .T

shaped ends projecting over, each of said platforms tohold .the same intheirrrelative positions and havingiits outermost 7.extremities contained within the Skeleton framestructure as defined by planes across the'out'er surfaces' of said top and bottom platforms and the'ends of said longitudi- 'lnallyextending rails -thereon.- i v 2. A skeleton frame structure for placement in a container to support the walls thereof and consisting of, a bottom platform, a top platform and a pair of side walls extending between said platforms, said top and bottom platforms each consisting of' a member extending longitudinally of the structure and forming a corner edge of the same and a second member extending transversely of said longitudinal member at opposite ends thereof and secured thereto, said second member having its ends inset from the longitudinal edges of said longitudinal member, said side walls extending between said top and bottom platforms with their longitudinal edges positioned in the recess provided by the inset ends of said second member, and an unattached removable channel-shaped cleat extending between said platforms at each end thereof having its opposite ends projecting over each said platform to hold the same in their relative positions and having its outermost extremities contained within the Skeleton frame structure as defined by planes across the outer surfaces of said top and bottom platforms and the ends of said longitudinally extending rails thereon.

3. A Skeleton frame structure for placement in a container to support the walls thereof and consisting of, a bottom platform, a top platform and a pair of side walls extending between said platforms unsecured relative to each other, said top and bottom platforms each consisting of a pair of rails extending longitudinally of the structure and forming a corner edge of the same and a pair of rails extending transversely between said longitudinal rails and secured thereto, said transverse rails having their ends inset from the longitudinal edges of said longitudinal rails, said side walls extending between said top and bottom platforms with their longitudinal edges positioned in the recess provided by the inset ends of said transverse rails with the outer faces of the said side walls fiush with the outer edges of said longitudinal rails and with the ends of the side walls flush with the ends of said longitudinal rails.

4. A Skeleton frame structure consisting of, a bottom platform, a top platform and a pair of side walls extending between said platforms unsecured relative to each other, said top and bottom platforms each consisting of a pair of rails extending longitudinally of the structure and forming a corner edge of the same and a pair of rails extending transversely between said longitudinal rails and secured thereto with the outer longitudinal edges flush with the ends of said longitudinal rails, said transverse rails having their ends inset from the longitudinal edges of said longitudinal rails, said side walls extenddimme-router faces ofsthesaiu side wansflush lwith the'outer edges of said'long'itudinal rails andlwith'lthe ends of the side walls flush with the ends of saidlongitudinal rails. i` l f L 1 5. 'AS Skeleton frame vstructure-for placement in a container to support 'the-walls thereof and consi'sting of, a'bottom platform, a topv platform andfa pair'of vside' walls 'extending betwe'enfsaid vplatforms unsecured relative to each-other, said Vtop and bottom platforms each fconsisting ofia pair of railsextending longitudinally of the structure and' forming a* corner edge .of the same.` and a'pair of rails 'extendingftransversely between said longitudinal rails and secured thereto. with the: outer-longitudinaledges flush with the ends of said longitudinal rails, said transverse rails having their ends inset from -the longitudinal edgesof said longitudinal rails, said side walls extending between said top and bottom platforms with their longitudinal edges positioned in the recess provided by the inset ends of said transverse rails with the outer faces of the said side walls flush with the outer edges of said longitudinal rails and with the ends of the side walls ing between said top and bottom platforms with flush with the ends of said longitudinal rails, each of said side walls having a pair of rails extending longitudinally thereof inset from the longitudinal edges thereof and engaging the ends of said transverse rails to hold them between said last-mentioned rails and said first-mentioned longitudinal rails.

6. In combination, a container having nonself-Supporting walls when placed under load of the article adapted to be carried therein, and a skeleton frame structure disposed therein consisting of a bottom platform, a top platform and a pair of side walls extending between said platforms unsecured relative to each other, said top and bottom platforms each consisting of a pair of rails extending longitudinally of the structure and forming a corner edge of the same and a pair of rails extending transversely between said longitudinal rails and secured thereto with the outer longitudinal edges flush with the ends of said longitudinal rails, said transverse rails having their ends inset from the longitudinal edges of said longitudinal rails, said side walls extending between said top and bottom platforms with their longitudinal edges positioned in the recess provided by the inset ends of said transverse rails with the outer faces of the said side walls fiush with the outer edges of said longitudinal rails and with the ends of the side walls fiush with the ends of said longitudinal rails, each of said side walls having a pair of rails extending longitudinally thereof inset from the longitudinal edges thereof and engaging the ends of said transverse rails to hold them between said last-mentioned rails and said first-mentioned longitudinal rails.

7. A skeleton frame structure for placement in a container to support the walls thereof and consisting of, a bottom platform, a top platform and a pair of side walls extending between said platforms, said top and bottom platforms each consisting of a pair of rails extending longitudinally of the structure and forming a corner edge of the same and a pair of rails extending transversely between said longitudinal rails and secured thereto, said transverse rails having their ends inset from the longitudinal edges of said longitudinal rails and their outer longitudinal edges flush with the ends of said longitudinal rails, said side walls extending between said top and bottom platforms with their longitudinal edges positioned in the recess provided by the inset ends of said v -The following references transve'rse rails with theouter faces of the side 'wallsfiush withl the outer edges of said longitudinal rails and with .the ends of the side walls fiush with the ends of said longitudinal rails, and an unattached movable cleat T-shaped at opposite ends extending -between'said platforms at each'. end thereof with the T-shaped ends projectingover said platform to hold the same in their relative positions and having its outermost extremities contained within the Skeleton frame structure as defined by planes across the outer surfaces of said topr and bottom'platforms and REFERENCES' CITED are of record in the file of this patent:

8 UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Nu'mber Name f Date Heagerty May 7, 1901 f Buttman Mar. 28, 1905 Fonts U July 1'8, 1905 Wight Nov. 5, 1912 Gomesu Apr. 16, 1935 McKenzie Sept. 13, 1949 Stetson Oct. 4,.1949 Talbot. Nov. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS .Country Date France V Feb. 21, 1930 

